Thanksgiving lessons from the leaves...

Today, as I raked the leaves in my yard, this blog from years ago, came to mind...and it began with the wind.

Yesterday, I tackled the job of raking the front yard. We have a beautiful popcorn tree that just a few weeks ago was full of the most beautiful colored leaves. Now they all lay at my feet and covered every square inch of my yard in crunchy brown fragments. I knew the weather was going to turn and if I was going to get this done, now was the time. So I raked, and raked, and raked. To make the job more interesting, the wind kept blowing and scattering my leaves. I offered up a prayer - okay, it was more of a complaint..."Come on, God! Give me a break!" For a moment, the wind turned and blew with me instead of against me; I smiled only to then immediately experience the wind shift again. It was then that one of those random thoughts hit.

From here on, this blog may seem redundant, stating the obvious for the oblivious. Yet, it is something I must remind myself of daily. Can I thank God in ALL things, not just those I see as a blessing?

As I raked and the wind turned against me again, I realized that the same wind that blew my work away was bringing a cool refreshing to my sweaty brow. It caused leaves to dance in merriment up to the unbelievably blue sky. I could get angry and "shake my fist" at the wind, or I could take a step back and see things in a different way. Instead of working against the wind, I needed to shift my position and work with that wind....see the gift that it brought in the midst of challenges.

Many challenges I face in life are nothing more than things not going the way I think they should. Perhaps in these times, there is something I can learn. Do I fuss and fume when things don't go "my way"? Do I stare in disbelief when life hands me pain? Do I forget to look up and see if perhaps that which is causing me frustration is at the same time blowing in something else I need? Am I willing to be thankful in ALL things?

That same popcorn tree had given us shade all summer long when we needed it. It had painted a beautiful picture to welcome me home during the first few days of fall. It will serve as the backdrop for our nativity this Christmas. I had thanked God for its shade and colors, could I thank God for its barrenness as well? Would I lift my eyes from the mess at my feet to see the hope? 

I don't know what wind has blown into your life lately...but is it possible that the wind that is "messing with" your plans may also be bringing blessings and hope you have not seen. Though it seems that all is crashing around you....look up. Your strength and hope are there. You can not see them, just like you can't see the wind. But just like the wind, you can feel it and know He is there.

This Thanksgiving, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of cooking, cleaning, and holiday activities, may you feel the cool wind of His presence and know that He is there. That is something we can truly be thankful for.

 

 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (MSG)

^16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

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Just quit

That voice...the one that whispers in your head, "Just quit". 

It's always a whisper - anything else and you might recognize the voice. It's a familiar one... " just quit."

It continues on...that whisper. "No one notices. No one cares. Who do you think you are to try this? It won't make a difference."

That whisper. It drains you. And it seems impossible to make it go away.

So instead of making it go away, add to the words. Add the word "don't" and turn it all around.

When the whisper says "Just quit," quietly add the word "don't...just DON'T quit."

Even if no one notices - just don't quit.

Even if no one cares - just don't quit.

Even if it doesn't seem like it makes a difference - just don't quit.

Slowly the voice of your enemy will fade and in its place, you will begin to hear the voice of the great cloud of witnesses who are cheering you on. "Just don't quit! You can do this. What you do matters." 

The enemy only wins if we listen to him. The enemy is the only one who benefits if we quit.

But those who benefit if we don't quit - those are too many to count.

So when the whisper comes - "just quit," come back by adding one little word. 

Just. Don't. Quit. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:1 

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The Gilligan in me...

 

Today's random thought is a bit more random than normal! 

Remember the old tv show, Gilligan's Island? Poor Gilligan, he was forever messing up. It seemed that each episode he found a new way to do something "stupid" - something that made you want to facepalm at the ridiculousness of it all. On the rare occasions that he wasn't the "clown" of the episode...wait; he was ALWAYS the clown of the episode. 

In contrast, there were all the other characters that each had endearing qualities - the Skipper who had to lead this eclectic bunch, the Professor who could make anything out of coconut shells and scrap ship parts, Ginger who was gorgeous and looked perfect every episode, Mary Ann who was equally pretty and yet just so darn likable, the Howell's - the rich couple who somehow still had plenty of the finer things in life despite being stuck on a deserted island...and Gilligan. 

But today, the song from the series played in my head..."If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost." Let's see - the crew would be the Skipper...and GILLIGAN! If not for Gilligan's courage, they would have all been lost.

We all have times when we feel like the Gilligan of the bunch. We kick ourselves at our own stupidity and we're embarrassed that we're not the smart one or the pretty one or the rich one or the one that everybody loves - we're the Gilligan. But according to the song, that's not how Gilligan is remembered - he's remembered as courageous, saving the lives of those on board. His mistakes aren't sung about - it's the one moment in time when he did what he'd been prepared for.

In Esther, there's a verse that talks about perhaps Esther had been made queen for such a time as this. I know that very likely no one reading this has been crowned queen lately, but perhaps in our own Gilligan way, we have been created for such a time as this. History won't remember all the mistakes you made every day. They won't write a song about how you goofed up on a regular basis. History will remember the difference you made in the lives around you as you rose to the occasion as needed. Well, let's be honest, history probably won't remember most of us at all. But those who needed us that one time that we came through - they will remember us. And that is enough.

So for all the Gilligans out there, remember you are the fearless crew. History won't remember all your awkward times, it may not remember you at all...but you were born for such as this! 

Esther 4:14 (b) 

"...And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Photo by Max Goncharov on Unsplash

Why a manger?

The following "random thought" actually came about while teaching in Kid's Church just before Christmas many years ago. I don't think I've ever heard it before....in fact, I had never thought of it before the words began to come out of my mouth that Sunday morning. 

It was a typical Children's church service, a week or two before Christmas. I had a wonderful group of kids, most of whom I had known since they were born. These children knew quite well the story of Christmas, so making it real and new was quite a challenge. I had told the story and tried to paint a picture so that the children could experience the story anew. It was then that I asked the question - "Why was Jesus born in a stable?" Of course, the response was "Because there was no room in the inn." 

Then I asked a question even I hadn't considered before. "Why wasn't there room at the inn? Did God forget to make reservations?" Of course, we all laughed at such a ridiculous question. Obviously, the birth of Jesus being in a stable was no accident....but why would God allow/choose His Son to be born in a stable?

It's not like God didn't know when Jesus would be born. Yes, the city was crowded, but couldn't God have made room for this family in an inn somewhere? After all, He's God! He knew when the angel told Mary she'd have a son that they would be making this trip 9 months later! He could have made arrangements! I understand that there are many different views as to what this stable might have been, but it doesn't change the fact that a stable isn't a place for a baby to be born! That's where animals are born....animals like sheep. The kind of animal you'd use for a sacrifice.

And He came as the ultimate innocent sacrifice - a baby. Yet unlike any other baby ever born, He remained innocent and pure.

You know, every time I think about that, it causes a lump to rise in my throat. Jesus, the King of Kings was born in a place where sacrifices are born. He was laid in a manger - the place where the animals would go for food...The Bread of Life, Jesus - born as a sacrifice.

Since this was originally written, I've learned so much more about just how significant it was that Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger, and how it connects to sacrifice. When a lamb was born and intended to be used as a sacrifice, it was kept blemish-free. Since lambs are somewhat uncoordinated at birth, they could harm or mar themselves right after birth, so they were wrapped in swaddling clothes to keep them from harming themselves. The shepherds, truly odd visitors to mark the birth of the Son of God, would have known this. When they were told that this would serve as a sign to them, that they would find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger - they knew exactly what that meant. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this. 

This Christmas, as you take time to read the original Christmas story, may your heart be filled with the knowledge and wonder of God's love for you, and may it once again fill you with awe. Merry Christmas.

John 1:29 "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

6 things you may not have known about the birth of Jesus

Photo by Daniel Sandvik on Unsplash

I simply don't remember...

 

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a really hard time remembering things. It's not an age thing...I've been this way all my life (at least I think I have - I really don't remember.) I'm pretty sure it's an ADD thing.

It can be the little things that happen to us all...forgetting a name now and then. My husband learned early on in our marriage to introduce himself to whoever I was talking to because there was a really good chance I couldn't recall their name on demand. It could take hours, sometimes days before the gears would click and I could recall their name and where I knew them from. 

Add to this already rocky memory the fact that I've worked with children most of my life so there's their name, parent names, siblings name, their friends...you get the picture. I tell my students each year about the time I called my son Humphrey...Humphrey was our dog. They know if I will mess up my own son's name, there's a good chance I'll mess up theirs. They don't take offense. A lot of them just tell me to call them Humphrey so it's an in-class joke.

But it's not just names. Recently my husband and I came out of a store and he mentioned remembering when that location used to be the "Aim" store. I looked at him with a puzzled look and he said, "You remember. Aim for the best!" I shook my head - don't remember it. That's when he told me I'd worked there! Okay, my memory is far worse than I thought!

My sweet sister is always puzzled that I don't remember things from our growing up. I do remember a few things - the tree we climbed that had flowers that smelled like bananas. My friends and I would climb up and use cans with a string to talk to each other from tree to tree. We were secret agents. 

I remember being in my first grade play and having a mushroom costume that my mama had ingeniously fashioned from an old umbrella. Or the time my cute new one-piece pajamas were too long so she cut them off and hemmed them, only to discover she'd cut off one leg and one arm (hey, flowy was in style in the 70's!) We laughed and laughed and she cut off the other arm and did some amazing stitch work. I had the cutest hot pink pjs at the pajama party.

So see, I do remember some things. 

Some things I wish I could forget - an unkind word. Usually, it's that - an unkind word. My gift of gab gets me into trouble more often than I want to admit. Sometimes people overthink what I say and take it the wrong way. I should have a sign to carry around that says, "Take what I say at face value - there is no underlying message or intent. Don't spend a lot of time thinking about it - I obviously didn't take much time thinking before it left my mouth."

And that's where all this comes around to. Since I don't remember what I say, I'd better make sure that the words that come out of my mouth are sweet because, as they say, I may have to eat them.  How will I do that? As always, God's Word gives me the "how-to" to make sure I don't have to worry about what I say. It's right there in Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

I don't have to remember what I say as long as I follow His Words. And one day, when I get to heaven, if I said anything worth remembering, I know it will have directed someone else to be there with me. And we can laugh and laugh for the foolishness of my words that God somehow redeemed and used for good...and hopefully, I'll even remember saying them.

Photo by Rob Mulally on Unsplash

Time to "Dead-head"

 

Today as I finished my morning run, I noticed that some of my flowers needed some attention. This is an actual picture of them. They had been beautiful, but now they needed to be what is known as "dead-headed" - at least that's what I know it as. It simply means that you go in and pinch off the dead blooms so the others can shine! In another few weeks, I'll need to prune the entire bush, but that's a blog for another time.

As I reached down to pinch off the dead blooms, I had to remind myself that I was not "being cruel" to my plant. (Yes, I have apologized to them as I pinched off each tiny dead flower...) Those brown buds had already had a chance to show off and be beautiful, but now it was time for others to have the same chance. 

As I pinched and pulled, I thought about how as I get older, I feel like my "bloom" has died and it's time to make room for the younger folks and my time has gone, and blah, blah, blah...you know, the same old poor old me tune. That's when it hit me. These blooms were all a part of the same plant! Now you can connect that to the body of Christ of course, but today it hit me - there was actually one plant...a single plant! 

Some are still wondering where I'm going with all this so I'll try and explain. I saw the dead blooms as things God had me do in the past that were wonderful and right. I enjoyed every second of that bloom! But now it's time to let the old works go so that the newer blooms can shine. That doesn't mean that this old plant's time has come to an end - it's just time to do some adjusting.

If you are by chance young and actually reading this, it may not make sense; but for those of use past the beginning plant stages, it might hit home. 

It's easy as we get older to feel like we're of no more use. The blooms that once worked so well have withered and just aren't needed anymore. Our days of raising kids or whatever we used to do are coming to an end if they haven't already. What we're missing is that there are new blooms that are ready to show out! We'll only really notice the new things that God has for us to do when we "snip" off the old. 

Now I'll be the first to admit, I have no idea what my new blooms are supposed to be, but I'm realizing that at 62, I'm not dead and I've got a good bit of life left to give to the Kingdom and those around me! So, it's time to pinch off the old - honestly, I'm asking God what all that includes - and recognize the new. I'm having to ask what that is as well. 

If you, too, find yourself in a season of dead-heading, feel free to share. Sometimes it helps to know we're not alone. And enjoy the new blooms...every single one.

“Forget about what’s happened;
    don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
    It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
    rivers in the badlands." Isaiah 43:18-19 (Msg)

He's just a coach...

This is a repeat of a blog I wrote years ago, but today I ran into an amazing "Coach" that a lot of people may have never heard of. He's a coach for thousands of students and teachers and if you've never heard of Move To Learn, you need to check it out! I wanted to republish in honor of Coach Calhoun. Thank you for inspiring this old teacher again.

I'd like to dedicate this blog to some of the greatest people I know. They are called coaches.

In the field of education, sometimes coaches get a bad rap. They are sometimes seen as lesser teachers, but I've got to give a shout out to some of the greatest teachers I know, and they go by the name "Coach".

This topic of "coaches" came up in a conversation just yesterday and I heard it put as well as I've ever heard it done. How many other people do we call by their job? Oh, there is Mr. President and Dr. So and So, but no one refers to me as Teacher Sumrall. You don't hear someone shout out, "Hey Secretary" or "Hi Engineer," but go out just about anywhere in town and when a young person (or one who at least ONCE was young) sees their coach, it's "Hey Coach!" It's a title of honor.

Think about it. Few other people have the impact on a young person's life as does their "coach." While they may have a lot of great teachers through the years, many will have one coach who imparts into their lives for 2, 3, 4, even 5 or more years. I know of at least one coach who mentored my son for 4 years, beginning in Jr. High when my son didn't really even know how to tackle. That young man helped develop my son's talent and looked out for him, always steering my boy in the way he should go...even when he wasn't listening to his mom! Thank you, Coach.

We even chose our current school location based on a coach. (That might sound strange coming from a teacher.) I asked around and discovered that while a lot of area coaches were great men, but one coach was described in this way. "Now Coach Wheat, that man builds character in his boys." No more had to be said. I know that football is just a game, but I also know that lessons learned out there on the field can be so much more if used correctly. My son isn't just learning plays, he's learning how to look out for others and be a man of character. 

My daughter had a coach for the short time she played basketball in Jr. High and she still refers to her as "Coach." I daresay Coach Missy had no idea the impact she made in my girl's life, but recently I saw a bunch of her former "players" coming together to honor her for being their coach in high school. Every young woman a stronger and better person (and player) thanks to her leadership.

There have been so many over the years who have poured into the lives of my children. Coach Langham had a way of making my daughter believe she could do anything (and was able to put up with her sarcastic wit like few others.) He also coached my son and gave advice that we still use today.

There are so many on the team of coaches that help mentor my son. Coach Bryant has the "joy" of not only teaching Jr. High but also serving as basketball coach and track coach, traveling miles and miles just to watch our kids run miles and miles. He uses all that time to offer guidance on life, respect, and honor along with the regular coaching duties. (As a mom, I appreciate this SO much!)

I had a "coach" in my own life as well. I wasn't very athletic, but when I was in high school, we had a coach who was in charge of FCA. I listened to his guidance over the years and his words shaped me more than he could have ever known. I still think about some of the lessons he taught and it has been almost 40 years since I sat in those lunchtime meetings.

Then there is my more recent "coach"...Coach Becky. How can someone look at a 48-year-old teacher coming out of the school at the end of the day and see potential? Or maybe it was just pity. Either way, I am so thankful that on that afternoon years ago she invited me to join them for a training run at the track. She has helped so many of us see ourselves as more than what we are to what we might be.

So the next time you catch someone saying, "He's just a coach," remember that they are so much more. These individuals are making a difference that few others do. They see our children (and us) at their best and at their worst, and they inspire these kids to work as a TEAM, something our country could use more of.

I am so thankful for these men and women that give time away from their own families to pour life and character into mine. You make a difference. 

If you have been blessed by a coach, feel free to share this post and "tag" them. I know I will.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash